Adding tile to a fireplace.

Here is an inexpensive way to spruce up your fireplace by adding a beautiful tile design. A flawless fireplace surround starts with a well-thought-out design and ends with an eye for even spacing. Depending on the tile you use, the design may be as simple as centering the starting position, as with subway tile, or as complicated as spacing decorative tile in the middle of a field, as with accent art tile.

Many art-tile manufacturers will custom-make their tile to match your surround. But regardless of which tile you use, you’ll save a lot of time by making a cardboard template of your surround so that you can lay out a pattern on the floor, space the tiles appropriately, and choose a starting position before committing everything to the fireplace itself.
Start by placing the tile on the cardboard per your design, beginning with the center tile and working outward from there. Then you can see if you need to adjust the tiles to avoid cutting any slivers at the ends. On the legs of your surround, plan to use full tiles in the field and leave any cuts at the bottom.
Whenever you tile a vertical surface, you have to start from the bottom row and work your way up. For the field above the firebox opening, you’ll need to screw a piece of wood to the bricks to provide support for the heavy tiles while they set. At the bottom of the legs, you’ll have to estimate the size of the last cut tile and rip a piece of wood for a level starting point that keeps the joints lined up from leg to leg.
Install a temporary support ledge




Mark the center of the top of the firebox opening. Using a level, draw a plumb line at the mark that extends from the firebox to the top of the surround. Use this centerline as a starting point to ensure a balanced design.

Cut a 1x3 to fit the width of the surround. Position the 1x3 just below the top edge of the firebox opening and check it for level. If the ledge and the top of the firebox are not even when the ledge is level, position the wood slightly below the opening on one side, rather than let it ride up on the other side. This will ensure that all of the surround will be covered when you install the tiles.

Using a drill/driver and 2-inch masonry screws, secure the wood at each end to the surround.

Mix up a new batch of thinset and additive. Using the flat edge of the trowel, apply a horizontal band of thinset across the center-line above the support ledge. Score the thinset by combing the notched edge of the trowel through it at an angle.

Position the first tile at the centerline, with its bottom edge resting on the support ledge. Tip it into place and wiggle it to set it fully.

Continue placing tiles on either side of the center, alternating left and right. Periodically check the tiles for level and plumb and to be sure all their faces are flush with one another; to keep them even, adjust the spacing between them when necessary.
Grout the tile

Using a putty knife, clear away any pieces of thinset stuck between the tiles. Place painter’s tape over art tiles that have irregularly shaped surfaces, in preparation for grouting.

Using the drill/driver fitted with a mixing paddle, mix the grout according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Using a grout float held at an angle, pull the grout across the face of the tiles to pack it into the joints. Then turn the float on its edge and pull it diagonally across the grout lines to remove the excess from the face of the tiles.
Be sure to use a non-sanded grout to avoid scratching certain tile.
Below is a slide show of a fireplace using Noche Travertine tile.
This project can cost from $250 to $1500 and take up to 3 days.

Can Paint color Deter the sale of a home?

Flower print wall paper, Canary yellow and Rose Red, may be your ideal wall color/covering, but it can scare away a buyer. Wallpaper, is making a comeback as an incredible alternative to paint. There are excellent textures like bamboo that can enhance a space. But dated wallpaper, can not only make a space feel drab, but also convey to a buyer that they have a lot of work to do to get the home “to their taste”. Loud and dark colors can be just as disinheriting when presenting a room. Always understand what color can convey.
Color stimulates our senses and even changes our moods. Outgoing people feel happy with bold paint colors, while more shy people prefer the more passive, or subdued colors. By using a specific color combination in a color scheme, you can create a room that is welcoming and comfortable.
Try not to use more than two main colors in a room, a main color and a trim color, or one color for three walls and another for an accent wall. One of the best ways to choose room paint colors that work together is to use a color palette available from your local paint store. Here's a general rule...the walls define the space of a room while colors define the mood you would like to present.
Colors could be put into three main groups:
• colors that can provide harmony and balance
• colors that can uplift
• colors that can relax
For instance, light blue is tranquil, purple stands for power or royalty, while green is for nature. By the same token grays and blacks are subdued colors while yellow brings out happiness. Do we even need to say that red is the color of romance, per stylish room ideas.
But what if you have white walls and you don’t want to invest in painting walls that will just be changed by the buyer. You can add color through art work and décor.
Here is a child’s room that feels pretty drab and has no pizzazz!








We chose fuchsia as the dominating color and set out to add more excitement by building around this color. We added color thorough custom art. If you’re not an artist that’s ok. First start with paint canvases. You can buy them for $5 to $20 from big lots. Choose a color and take a swash or anything that is the size of a quarter and have home depot or Lowes mix paint to match the color (the smallest that is available). Then Take that paint and paint the entire canvas that color, groups of three’s are very pleasing to the eye. We chose an oil paint and painted lines and balloons. But you can leave your canvas blank with just the color, or add circles or lines to evoke an artistic appeal.






Then coordinate with decor that includes the color in your color scheme.










Now you have added color to the wall without committing to color on the walls.

Exploring Tile

This week we will start a series on Tile. I have gotten a lot of questions on what type of tile to use in many different situations within the home, on patios and even on fireplaces. We will explore several different types of tile, good stores in the Orlando areas that supply tile as well as a step by step tutorial on “Do it yourself” projects.

Let’s start out talking about the different types of tile:

Non-porcelain ceramic tiles are generally made from a red or white clay that is fired in a kiln. They're easier to cut than porcelain and usually carry a PEI rating of 0 to 3 (see PEI Ratings below). Ceramic tiles are suitable for light to moderate traffic and have a higher water absorption rating that makes them less frost resistant than porcelain. In addition, they're usually more prone to wear. However, with new technologies, ceramic tile should always be considered by its specifications, as durability and other factors will vary between ceramic tiles. Ceramic tiles generally cost less than porcelain tiles.


Porcelain tile is generally made by pressing porcelain clays, which results in a tile that's dense, impervious, fine grained, and smooth with a sharply formed face. Porcelain tiles usually have a much lower water absorption rate than ceramic tiles, making them more frost resistant, although not frost proof. Glazed porcelain tiles are much harder and have more wear- and damage-resistance than ceramic tiles, making them suitable for any residential and light commercial application.
In addition to the many choices you have in ceramic tiles, there's also a wealth of options among natural stone tiles. There are many subtle and significant differences between the types of stones available, from appearance to water absorption to durability. The natural stones most commonly used in tiles are slate, marble, limestone, travertine and granite.



Slate is a fine-grained, metamorphic rock, commonly derived from sedimentary rock shale. It's composed mostly of micas, chlorite, and quartz and is best suited for floors, walkways and roofing, and recently has been used attractively for kitchen countertops and wet bars.
It's a dense, very tough composite that's typically available in blacks, grays and greens, although many other colors can also be found in slate products. Slate shades within the same color family often vary. Veined patterns from overseas have also recently been introduced. Unless it has been honed smooth, slate's surface can be recognized by its distinct cleft pattern.




Marble is one of the more popular natural stones, formed from fossil sediment deposits that have been pressed by the natural geologic forces of nature for millions of years. Much as diamonds are created from coal, marble was once limestone that underwent a metamorphosis from the intense pressures and high temperatures within the earth.
The combination of the natural materials in these deposits, along with natural geologic events, produces unique colors and veining with a richness of depth and intensity. Most marble products are generally softer than granites and have more porosity than granite. Since marble is a softer stone than granite, it's most often used in bathroom walls and flooring, as well as for tub decks, fireplace surrounds, furniture, sculptures and courtyards. Marble is not recommended for kitchens unless the stone is honed and sealed.

Limestone is a form of marble that's less dense than marble or travertine (see below). Limestone is a sedimentary rock consisting mostly of calcium carbonate and is formed from the remains of ancient sea life, such as oysters, mussels, and other ancient shellfish and invertebrates, that have dropped to the sandy bottom of ancient seas and then compressed over millions of years.
Limestone is a common stone found in many parts of the world in excellent abundance. Limestone generally varies in earthy colors such as off-white, grey or beige. If the limestone contains the mineral dolomite, it becomes harder in nature and can be polished to a shine much like marble can. Its best uses are for structural walls, entry walls, floors, fireplace surrounds, vanities and shower walls. It's generally not recommended for kitchen countertops and wet bars because fruit juices and alcohol products can stain it and limestone is prone to scratches.




Travertine is a variety of limestone formed in pools by the precipitation of hot mineral-rich spring water. Travertine is another form of marble that's less dense than a high-grade marble and highly porous. The divots that are characteristic of travertine were created by carbon dioxide bubbles that became trapped as the stone was being formed.
Travertine can have a honed, unfinished surface, or the holes can be filled and then polished to a high gloss. It's best used in entry walls, floors, fireplace surrounds, vanities, shower walls, tub decks and mosaics, but is not recommended for kitchen or wet bar countertops since it can be easily scratched. It can also be easily stained by fruit juices and alcoholic products. Its colors usually range from light beige to brown. Travertine does require a degree of special care, as some cleaning products can be destructive to its surface.





Granite is a dense-grained hard stone. It's actually the second hardest known substance next to diamonds. Granite is an igneous rock formed either from the melting of sediments deep within the earth or through magma (lava) activity that has heated and cooled. These sediments were held under extreme pressure and temperatures for millions of years, then brought to the surface of the earth through upheaval of the crust that formed mountains. This process produces granite, a quartz-based product, which combines strength and durability with rich patterns and veining.
Minerals within granite typically appear as small flecks throughout the stone, often creating a salt and pepper look. Other types of granite have veining similar to marble. Once polished, natural granite will maintain its high gloss finish virtually forever. It also cleans in seconds. Because of its durability, it can be used successfully on kitchen countertops, wet bars, entry walls, floors, fireplaces and bathroom vanities. Flamed or honed granite can be used almost anywhere.




You should always note that no two natural stone tiles will be the same-each has its own natural beauty. Natural stone will have to be sealed periodically in order to maintain the beauty.

C/O NKBA

With eachof these choices, which one is more cost effective, and which will bring the greatest return in your home? We will explore theses question in the next post.

A children’s room makeover

Spruce up a room with old furniture and dull feel with color. Adding color and patterns to furniture can really make a room pop for a buyer. The key to staging a home is to show off the possibilities as well as creating a feel of being need and desire! When you incorporate special themes in your home, you can create an oasis that the average buyer can’t live without. Check out the slide show below, we took the old dated furniture and added flowers and stripes and organized the room so that the good use of space was evident in the room.

Make a Smilebox postcard

If you need help organizing a room please send me pictures or ask me questions, and maybe I can pass along some good ideas.

Can an updated kitchen help sell your home in this market?

The looming question of, “When will we began to see a rise in prices on home sales, and have we hit the bottom?”, is what we all ask as homeowners, and those of us that are trying to sell, want to know,” How can we distinguish our homes from others, and how large of an investment is worth sinking into a home swimming in a sinking market?”
When we ask experts what can homeowners who are looking to sell their homes do to maximize their selling prices in this down economy, they replied,” It all starts in the kitchen!”
Kitchens and Master Bathrooms are the big selling point in any house. That is what will move the home. It’s considered the grand finale. But how profitable is it to update your kitchen in this market. A kitchen remodel can be costly and in the least a major inconvenience for a home owner, but it can also be very rewarding with a great return on the homeowner’s investment. If your home is up against comparable homes and their kitchen has all of the bells and whistles, that home will surely beat yours in the running. Typically, kitchen remodeling will give you one of the highest home remodeling returns, at about 80-100% return on your investment. So this may be a good start, to help in the sell of your home.
Maybe a major remodel may not be in order, minor remodels can be just as effective and the small enhancements can play upon some of the good pieces in your kitchen. If you have solid countertops, think about adding a backslash.





If you have solid cabinets, maybe adding color can give them some richness.







And we can’t forget about updating the cabinets with new hardware.





You can complete one or several of these jobs, ultimately adding value to your home. Start by setting a flexible budget and understand what type of design and materials you want to work with.
Here is a remodel that we completed by adding all new materials and design, this home sat on the market for 1 year, and sold 31 days after the remodel was sold above the asking price. Some investments are worth the money. Ask me for a free consultation on your kitchen, we can discuss small updates and even the larger ones.

Here is a kitchen that we completed below...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Turn your bathroom into a hotel retreat.

With life, we tend to do things that are easy for us, and the things that make sense are usually what we rely on. But can you remember walking into a hotel room and how the feel of the room made you overcome with relaxation, the placement of the furniture the chocolates on the bed, just the pure organization of the room made you feel good. Managing to keep your home looking like a vacation oasis, probably doesn’t make sense. But what if I could show you how to bring that feeling home. Think about the things that made the room feel good. My husband and I went to a hotel in St Augustine, and when we entered the room, there was a slow hum of jazz on the radio, the furniture was this antique wrought Iron with a big fluffy comforter and 8 larger pillows, and we fell onto the bed and got lost in the sheets. We went to the bathroom and it was filled with water and oils and roses the sweet smell filling the room. There was even a basket full of towels and oils that you would find at an exquisite spa. I was in heaven!!
I want to show you how you can create that same affect. This will especially help those of you that have your homes on the market!
Clutter can leave a very uneasy sense of things not being complete, so the first thing we want to do is get the bathroom organized.




For $1.00 at Big Lots, you can get storage baskets, and place them as such; one for make ups, one for Hair products, one for cleaning products etc.




You can pull the basket out, use your products then place them back under the cabinet.






This not only clears the counter tops, it keeps the bathroom looking neat, and so that potential buyers aren’t focusing on your hair products or tooth paste. Once you place everything neatly under the cabinets, then you have room to begin creating your spa. Candles are always nice, and the can not only create a mood, but look incredible next to the sink. Try Ross, they have several different type of candle holders as in expensive as $4.99, then also look through there bathroom coordinates; you can buy towels and tooth brush holders and soap dispensers for less than $10 per set. Think of a color and theme and coordinate around that. I chose Chocolate and Teal green, I went to the dolor store and bought several “spa” like pieces, such as oils, and wicker shoes, back massagers and sponges, I also painted a tile to give it and authentic look and created a basket.




Once you have completed this, you can enjoy a daily spa treatment as well as keeping your bathroom organized and staged for potential buyers